What you'll see: It's as if someone threw a switch. It has rained more than 6 inches across these normally arid foothills. The early monsoons have transformed a vast landscape of foothills, valleys, ridges, creeks and wildlife. At this time last year, the area had received less than an inch of rain.

Alameda Creek: The headwaters of Alameda Creek have been recharged and are once again running through Little Yosemite. From the parking area next to the horse corrals, hike along the Camp Ohlone Road. You cross a bridge, rise over a hill and, in less than a mile, arrive at a series of pretty pool-and-drop mini waterfalls. Degree of difficulty: Easy.

Golden eagle sightings: In winter, Sunol is one of the best places in the United States to see golden eagles. Huge numbers of ground squirrels live there and provide food all winter for the raptors. Instead of driving to the main park entrance, turn on Welch Creek Road and take the Upper Maguire Peaks Trailhead for the Maguire Peaks Loop. This is a 6-mile hike with wide-ranging views, below to the north to little-seen San Antonio Reservoir and across the nearby foothills. With binoculars, scan across the sky in hopes of spotting one of nature's fiercest predators. Moderate.

Falcon lookouts: The best destinations to see prairie falcons, red-tailed hawks and the occasional peregrine and goldens are the top of 1,360-foot Flag Hill (actually a towering rock outcrop), 2,201-foot Cerro Este lookout and Eagle View Trail. Steep at times.

Other surprises: The park spans 6,859 acres, adjoins the Ohlone Wilderness to the east and Mission Peak to the west, and is speckled with eroded sandstone outcrops. Look close, like on the summit of Flag Hill, and you can find embedded sea fossils. That's right, the entire area was once the bottom of the sea. Note that Old Green Barn Visitor Center is open weekends, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dogs: Dogs are permitted in daytime hours and allowed off leash under voice command.

Trail map: Map/brochure at trailhead; PDF at ebparks.org.

Camping: Group and family campsites are closed. Backpack-style hike-in sites in Sunol-Ohlone Wilderness are open, $5 per person. No campfires. Ohlone Wilderness permit and overnight parking pass at trailhead both required. Reserve at ebparks.org or (888) 327-2757, Option 2.

How to get there: From San Francisco, take Interstate 80 east over the Bay Bridge (get in the right lane) to the split with I-580/I-880. Take the fork for I-580 East and drive 26 miles to the exit for I-680 south. Take that exit, merge onto I-680 south and drive 8.2 miles to the exit for Calaveras Road/Highway 84. Take that exit and go 0.4 miles to a fork, stay left and continue a short distance to Highway 84-Paloma Road. Turn left at 84/Paloma, drive under the freeway and continue 4.3 miles (becomes Calaveras Road) to Geary Road. Turn left at Geary and drive 2.3 miles to the park entrance (kiosk attended on weekends). Continue ahead to corral, parking and trailhead at end of the road. 48 miles.

GPS: Use 1895 Geary Road, Sunol, CA.

Maguire Peaks: From Geary Road, turn left on Welch Creek Road and head to Upper Maguire Peaks Trail (limited parking).